Gate hinge



Sept.- 20, 1932.

.1. B. GETZ GATE HINGE Filed Sept. 20. 1930 AIIYEQ Patented Sept. 20,1932- UNITED STATES PATENT oi-"Flor."

JOHN B. can, or MORTON, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOR TO INTERLOCKING FENCE do, or"MORTON, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS GATE HIIVGE Applicationfiled September 20,- 1930. Serial No. 483,159;

This invention has reference to certain new and useful improvements ingate hinges and it has for its principal object a hinge, which inaddition to providing an eflicient support for the gate, permits thegate to swing back full 180 and in either direction, that is, flat backin parallel relation with the fence on either side thereof.

The invention has for a further object to provide such a hinge,including meshing segment gears, one each fixed to the end post of thefence and to an end bar of the gate frame, the same encased in a housingproviding a bearing and complementary to said post and end bar andcapable of pivotal movement about the end post, as the gate is swungaround in either direction.

Other and further objects will more fully appear from the followingdescription.

That the invention may be more fully undestood, reference is had to theaccompanying drawing forming part of this description, illustrating apreferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is an elevationshowing in part a fence and in part a gate, the latter being hung by ahinge embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail in plan and in section showing the construction ofthe hinge and as the same would appear if taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.1, dotted lines showing a swung position of the gate;

Fig. 3 is a detail in elevation, partly in section and partly brokenaway as the same would appear on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan showing a gate in a normally closedposition, in full lines, and in dotted lines, the gate swung back inparallel relation on either side of the fence, made possible by theimproved hinge by which the gate is hung.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout thefigures.

In the drawing, a fence A is shown supported by an end post B and a gateC having the usual frame and end bar D hinged to the end post B by myimproved hinge. These elements of fence and gate are conventionalshowings and in no wise limiting, as the application of the hinge is notlimited to any particular form or type of gate or fence, nor to thepeculiar shape of post or end bar.

The hinges, and this applies toboth the upper and lower hinges, aresubstantially alike, as the invention'of the hinge makes it possibletoemploy like structures in both the upper andlower hinges and in thisrespect this is a distinct advantage from the point of view ofmanufacture and assembly of the hinge. Therefore, the description of'6?) one such hinge will suffice for both.

The hinge comprises a segment gear- 1 secured tothe end post B and asegment gear 52 secured. to the end bar D of the gate frame,

which is shown meshing with the gear 1 and '65 adapted to ride on saidgear 1 when the gate 1s swung in either direction and will permit thegate to'be swung back full 180 and in e ther direction, that is, flatback in parallel relation with the fence on either side thereof, 76 theclosed position of the'hinge being shown in full lines in Fig. 2 and onesuch open position being indicated by the dotted lines, also in Fig. '2.

The preferred construction of the gear seg- 7 ment 1 includes thehalfring sections 3 and 4, respectively, which are secured about and tothe post B, see Fig. 3, the latter section being formed or provided withgear teeth, as shown. The preferred construction of the gear segment 2is a ring-like member 5 provided with gear teeth, as shown, and having ahub portion 6 by means of which the member is secured -0n the end bar D.These gears are encased in a housing 7 which comprises the correspondinghalf sections 8 bolted together I and having portions complementary tothe end post B and end bar D, respectively, and provide a bearing whichis rotatable on the end post B when the gate is swung about said endpost. This housing not only encases the gear sections-but provides aclosure against ice and snow and is a'safety means against anythinggetting caught in and clogging the gears. Furthermore, the constructionof the hinge reduces friction to a minimum since the movable parts movein the same direction around a given radius; alsothe design of structureis effective in keeping the gate in alignment and the action of thehinge with one gear rolling on the other has an effect like a ballbearing and weight on the free end of the gate has no efiect in anymanner which would tend to cramp the hinge elements. Furthermore, it ispointed out, that the housings provide the coupling for connecting thegate to the support and with the housings having a pivotal connectionwith such support and the gearing, as constructed will permit the gateto have a pivotal relation with the housings whereby when the gears 2roll around the gears 1 the speed of movement of the gate is in excessof the movement of the housings and thereby the swinging movement of thegate is not only facilitated but the gate also may be swung full180,ineither direction.

\Vhat I claim is:

In a gate hinge, in combination, a segment gear arranged for securementto a i ence post, a segment gear meshing with said first mentioned gearand arranged for securement to a gate member, and a housing for saidgear elements arranged to embrace said fence post and gate member andhaving pivotal movement about said fence post and gate member, when thegate is swung, the speed of pivotal movement of the gate when swungbeing in excess or" the speed of pivotal movement of said housing.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 15 day ofSeptember, 1930;

' JOHN B. GETZ,

